GSM A6 BOARD

GSM A6 BOARD

After ESP8266, which broke all the market records in IOT, providing the cheapest WIFI chip in the market,Now AI Thinker seems to be promising with a new module in the market, A6 GSM/GPRS Module.

This A6 GSM/GPRS Module is now a big competitor for SIM900 series module.It supports dual-band GSM/GPRS network, available for GPRS and SMS message data remote transmission.

The board features compact size and low current consumption. With power saving technique, the current consumption is as low as 3mA in sleep mode.It communicates with microcontroller via UART port, supports command including GSM 07.07, GSM 07.05 and Ai-Thinker enhanced AT Commands.

- Default Baud rate: 115200bps and it can also be set by AT command.- Pin pitch: 2.54mm, it can be soldered directly to the PCB experimental board

It has a few really nice features that you may not have considered usefull.

-- A real time clock that is set by the network it also knows its Time Zone.-- 15 alarms yes 15 all with repeat function so you can set an alarm for 12 Noon and have it repeat Every day or every weekday etc. The alarm also powers the module on so for say a AMR system you could set the alarm for midnight each day the module would power up send +CALV: <n> to the controller the controller could then tell the module to send the data as a text and power the module down. Which can also be done by a single AT Command. -- A low power mode <1mA. All functionally still works SMS phone e.t.c. but the AT command serial is off this is controlled by pulling a single pin low.

1. Connect UART_TXD to RX of the FTDI2. Connect UART_RXD to TX of the FTDI3. Connect GND to the GND of the FTDI4. Connect VCC5.0 To the PWR_KEY pin.This acts like CHIP ENABLE.5. Connect a Micro Usb for the power(with any smartphone charger)6. After 4-5 second you can remove the connection between VCC5.0 and PWR_Key

You can open any serial monitor software like PuTty , select the port alloted to your FTDI and choose 115200baud. Input “AT”, and if you see “OK” it works!The A6 GSM requires a CARRIAGE RETURN after every AT command.This can be done easily with the SET MACROS function of the TERMINAL software. Here you can store AT commands followed by a $ sign & 0D. $ sign is to Append & 0D is the ASCII for Carriage Return.

The good new is the AT commands are very close to the Commands for others Gprs/Gsm modules like SIM800/SIM900 .

The CIPMUX command can’t be used, maybe it’s CMUX How to make a call ?ATD+the phone numberFor example: ATD944xxx Push enter and you will recieve the call.Note that no semicolon is required as in SIM900.The no. will be dialled even if you use a semicolon.

How to send a message ?AT+CMGF=1 to change to TEXT mode.AT+CMGS=”944xxxxx″

>(write the message here) (push Ctrl-Z and Enter, it doesn’t work in the Arduino Serial monitor but you can do it in Teraterm ,Putty or SCOM

CTRL+Z can be sent using the ASCII code 1A.

You can see all your previous message with:AT+CMGR=1for an another message change the numberAT+CMGR=2AT+CMGR=10AT+CMGR=12AT+CMGR=18AT+CMGR=24Etc